Mounting strap



May 3U, 1950 G. P. WAKEFIELD 2,509,895

MOUNTING STRAP Filed Dec. '7, 1946 5 s @i C 2 fig,

.751i '2 .49 l". 'fn-ifm i f l: 4 egg v i I3 '312m 9 n 914 a I3INVENTOR. GEORGE P WA KEF/EL D Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE MOUNTING STRAP Application December 7, 1946, Serial No.714,767

(Cl. 24S- 343) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to mountings for securing luminaires and the liketo ceilings and particularly to a new and improved adjustable mountingstrap.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide amounting which when secured by securing means which are fixed relativeto the ceiling, is capable of universal bodily adjustment parallel tothe plane of a ceiling.

Another object is to provide an adjustable mounting strap to which thestem of a luminaire may be effectively and readily attached so as todepend therefrom, and relative to which the stem may be rotatedindependently of the `change of position of the strap.

Another object is to provide a Supporting body and means thereon adaptedto be connected to and to support a luminaire in depending relation tothe body and a toggle means connected to the body for supporting thebody from the ceiling for limited universal adjustment parallel to theplane of the ceiling.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingdescription wherein reference is made to the drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of a luminaire showing in general themanner in which it is supported from the ceiling;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a mounting strap embodying theprinciples of the present invention and showing the manner of securingthe same on the ceiling and the manner in which the luminaire issupported thereby;

Figure 3 and Figure 4 are a top plan view and a side elevation,respectively, of the mounting strap illustrated in Figure 2;

Figures 5 and 6 are a top plan view and side elevation, respectively, ofa modified form of mounting strap.

Referring first to Figure l, there is illustrated a luminaire unit I,having a body in the form of a shell of translucent material which iselongated parallel to the ceiling and within which are disposed suitableilluminating means, not shown. Generally, in these structures, theilluminating means comprise elongated tubular fluorescent lamps, andconsequently the luminaires are quite long parallel to the plane of theceiling. Frequently they extend substantially the full width of the roomand employ a plurality of fluorescent lamps arranged in a row. Becauseof their longitudinal extent it is usually necessary to support them ata plurality of points along the length and this is done by means ofstems 3 which are arranged in a row and spaced apart from each otheruniformly in the row. The stems are connected at their lower ends to theluminaires and extend upwardly therefrom and are connected at theirupper ends to the ceiling. The uorescent lamps whether disposed withinthe body 2 or thereabove usually extend between sockets which arecarried in fixed position on the supporting stems and suitable canopies4 are carried on the stems and serve to conceal the fastenings of thestems to the ceiling. It is apparent that with plurality of elongatedtubular lamps thus arranged in a row and carried in sockets on stemsthat the stems must be spaced apart from each other with a fairly highdegree of accuracy and they must be accurately aligned in the row.

The present invention is concerned primarily with an improved mountingor strap adapted to be fastened to the ceiling and to the stems of thelamps for suspending the stems in accurately spaced relation from eachother parallel to the plane of the ceiling and in accurate alignmentwith each other in rows. Usually luminaires are installed asreplacements for existing lighting fixtures and the existing lightingfixtures generally are connected to and depend from electric outletboxes 5 which are secured in xed relation to the ceiling. Accordingly,when these xtures are replaced by luminaires the fluorescent lamps aremade of such length that the supporting stems 3 can be spaced apart thesame distance as the existing outlet boxes so that the stems can beconnected thereto respectively. However, for ordinary separate lightingfixtures the outlet boxes very often are not positioned sucientlyaccurately in alignment in a row or spaced suticiently accurately fromeach other to t the rather accurately spaced stems of the luminaire.Furthermore, in new installations it is often diflicult to locate theoutlet boxes suliciently accurately in alignment and in spacing fromeach other to meet the requirements for luminaires.

In order to provide for proper alignment and spacing of the stems 3 whenthey are to be suspended from such outlet boxes, it is necessary thatadjustment of the position of the stems 3 parallel to the plane of theceiling and laterally and longitudinally of the row be provided for.Therefore, it is necessary that any mounting secured to a xed supportingmeans on the ceiling, such as the outlet boxes, for supporting the stemsbe capable of limited universal adjustment relative to the outlet boxesor fixed supporting means in all directions in a plane parallel to theplane of the ceiling.

For this purpose the mounting or strap illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 isprovided. In they form illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the mounting,indicated generally at 6, comprises a single strap of rigid material,such as metal, having a central or -mid portion 'l which isoffset bodilyfrom the plane of the strap and is connected to the end portions 8thereof by side wall portions 9. One oi' the side wall portions 9 isprovided with a laterally elongated slot it Which, at its bottom,connects with a slot i i. The slot li, in turn, eX- tends to the bottomoi' the side wall 9 and continues uninterruptedly to the central portionof the mid portion l, thus forming a slot for receiving a s-abre typeconnection provided on the end of the stem 3 to be associated therewith.

Mounted on the end portions 8, respectively, are links l2 which arepivotally connected by pivots I3 to the end portions 8, respectively, soas to swing freely parallel to the plane of the end portions. Each orthe links l2 is provided with an elongated slot ll which extends fromthe top to the bottom thereof and preferably radially from the pivotalaxis of the pivot I3. 'I'he slots ifi are adapted to receive bolts,screws or other suitable suspending elements, as indicated, which may besecured in fixed relation to the ceiling, i'or example, by screwing themin the usual holes provided at the edges of the outlet boxes 5. Thuswhen the supporting bolts are fixed in mounting position in the ceilingor outlet box, movement of the strap parallel to the plane of theceiling is provided by the combined relative lineal movement oi thesupporting screws in the slots ld, their rotary movement therein, andthe swinging movement of the links l2 about their pivotal axes i3. Thusa toggle connection is provided between the supporting bolts and thestrap which permits bodily universal movement of the strap parallel tothe plane of the ceiling without rotation of the strap about an uprightcentral axis. Accordingly, a plurality of the straps can be mountedapproximately in position on the ceiling by connecting them to theexisting outlet boxes, and then adjusted to place them both the properdistance apart lengthwise of the row and in proper alignment in the rowso that each can engage its respective stem 3 without iiexure or warpingof the stems or of the body 2 or any other portion. of the luminaire l.

It should be noted that the bolts secured in the slots lf3 and into theceiling or outlet box intersect the plane of the strap. Accordingly,suitable openingsA is are provided in overlying relation to the links i2so as to afford passage of the bolt through the strap withoutinterference by the bolts with the lateral movement of the strap.

In some instances it is necessary to support the strap from a singlebolt in which case the strap illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 is provided.In this form the strap, indicated generally at 20, isthe same as thestrap above described. Insteadr of the links i2 however, a supplementalstrap 2| overlies the strap 2t and is secured thereto at its ends bymeans of suitable screws or bolts 22. The strap 2l is provided with acentral opening 23 which overlies the central portion of the strap 2s.Between the central portion of the strap 2l and the central portion ofthe strap 2t, a link 2d, similarl to the link E2 above described, isdisposed and pivotally secured' to the strap 2| by a suitable pivot 25.The link 2li is provided with a bolt receiving slot 26 which is similarto the slot i4 above described. Thus by means of a single bolt passingthrough the slot 26 and anchored in ther ceiling, the strap 20 ismounted for limited universal bodily movement in all directions whichare parallel to the plane of the ceiling. It also may be rotatedindependently of the bodily movement about the axis of the supportingbolt.

In both forms of the invention, the stems 3 are rotatably supported inthe slots of the central portion of the strap, such as the slot Il inFigure 3, so that adjustment may be made parallel to the plane of theceiling without interfering with the relatively rotated positions of thestems S about their own upright axes, respectively.

This cooperative relation is necessary as the sockets on adjacent stemsand which engage opposite ends of the same fluorescent lamp must remaincoaxial.

As a result, the straps may be fastened to the outlet boxes, and thenadjusted to support the luminaire in the proper position.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed,change being made as regards the details described, provided thefeatures stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of suchbe employed.

I claim:

l. A luminaire support comprising a body adapted. to be secured to axedsupporting means in a ceiling by means of a supporting bolt meansextending downwardly from the supporting means, means on said body forconnection to a luminaire to support the latter in depending relation tosaid body, said body being formed with an opening therethrough throughwhich the bolt means is adapted to extend, such opening being oi a sizeand shape to permit substantial universal adjustment of said body in anydirection in a plane parallel to the ceiling with respect to thesupporting means and bolt means, and a member extending across suchopening and underlying said body and adapted to be engaged by the boltmeans to frictionally clamp said body in desired adjusted position, saidmember beingmovabiy secured to said body in a plane parallel to theceiling and providing with such bolt means the aforesaid universallyadjustable connection of said body to the ceiling.

2. A luminaire support comprising a body adapted to be secured to aiixed supporting means ina ceiling by means of a pair of supporting boltmeans extending downwardly from the supporting means, means on a centralportion of! said' body for connection to a luminaire to support thelatter in depending relation to said body, said body being formed withan opening through each of itsV opposite ends through which the boltmeans" are respectively adapted to extend, such openings beingfso spacedapart and each being of a size and shape to permit substantial universaladjust-- ment of said body in any direction ina plane parallel' to theceiling with respect' to the supporting means and bolt means, and a pairof members extending across the respective openings and underlying saidbody and adapted to be engaged by the respective bolt means tofrictionally clamp said body inv desired adjusted position, each of saidmembers being inovably securedT to said bodyV in aY plane parallel tothe ceiling and providing with such bolt means theY aforesaiduniversallyA adjustable connection of said body to the ceiling. Y

3. A luminaire support comprising a body, means thereon adapted forconnection to a luminaire to support' the latter in depending relation'Vtothe body, a pair of link members pivotally con'- nect'edto` said bodyat spaced points for swinging movement about axes which are upright whensaid body is in operating position, each of said link members beingformed with an elongated slot therethrough offset endwise from andextending lengthwise generally radially from its pivot aXiS.

4. An adjustable support for a luminaire and comprising a metal straphaving a portion centrally thereof oiset from its general plane, saidportion being adapted for detachably supporting a luminaire, linkspivotally secured on one face of the strap at opposite ends thereof,respectively, for swinging movement parallel to said face, and each ofsaid links having a slot extending therethrough in a direction normal tosaid face and each slot being elongated in a direction parallel to saidface.

5. A luminaire support comprising a rigid strap having end portionsadapted to be generally parallel to the plane of a ceiling and a centralportion oiset downwardly from the plane of the end portions, said offsetportion having a transverse slot extending through one of its side wallsand a narrower slot in said side Wall connecting with the bottom of thetransverse slot, whereby a luminaire part can be inserted through theslots and lowered after insertion for retention in the narrower slot andagainst lateral displacement, linkage means connected to the body forswinging movement relative thereto parallel to the plane of the endportions, and securing means on the linkage means arranged forconnection to a iixed supporting means for adjustment parallel to saidplane of the end portions.

6. An adjustable hanger for a luminaire comprising a strap of rigidmaterial having a portion between its ends offset from the general planethereof, means on the central portion for connection to a luminaire,links pivotally secured to the strap at opposite ends of the centralportion, respectively, for swinging movement in the plane of the ends todifferent positions, and each of said links having a slot extendingtherethrough normal to the plane of the said ends and elongated parallelto said plane, and each of said end portions having an openingtherethrough sufficiently large to afford relative passage of a boltthrough the slot of the associated link in each of said differentpositions.

7. A luminaire support comprising a body, means thereon adapted forconnection to a luminaire to support a luminaire in depending relationto the body. a link member pivotally connected to the body for swingingmovement about an axis which is upright when the body is in operatingposition, and an elongated slot extending through the link member fromtop to bottom and being offset endwise from and extending lengthwisegenerally radially from said axis.

GEORGE P. WAKEFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,659,404 Lipshutz Feb. 14, 19282,089,390 Mangin Aug. 10, 1937 2,198,089 Peckham Apr. 23, 1940

